Home Cinema

RSS

NEWS: Sony goes 1080p with new home cinema systems

Andrew Everard 25 February 2008 15:41

Sony DAV-DZ260

Sony's four new home cinema in a box systems now include full 1080p upscaling to make the most of DVDs on large-screen TVs, have been styled to match the company's Bravia TV range, and have enhanced Bravia Sync connectivity to simplify system remote control.

And when you get to the top of the range, you can even have wireless rear speakers, using a new radio-based technology in place of the infrared of past Sony systems.

All the systems also offer Sony's Digital Cinema Auto-Calibration to give automatic set-up, and the company's DM Port connection, to which various adapters can be attached to interface with various portable devices such as Walkman players and phones, iPods and Bluetooth/wi-fi systems.

There's also a USB port for music playback, a Dialogue Enhancer to make speech more intelligible at low volumes, and Portable Audio Enhancer to make the most of compressed music.

The entry-level model is the DAV-DZ260, which offers a claimed output of 850w and uses compact speakers and a subwoofer, while the step-up model, the DAV-DZ560, uses larger standmount/wallmount speakers for the front left/right channels and is compatible with an optional wireless rear speaker system using Sony's new S-AIR technology.

Sony DAV-DZ860W The DAV-DZ660 uses the larger speakers all round, and the range-topping DAV-DZ860W (left) has the same configuration, but comes with wireless rear speakers as standard.

All four models will be available in the next couple of months.

Comments

stefanr February 25, 2008 19:45

All four models will be available in the next couple of months.

That'll be only a year to wait then. They really should sort out their other/existing home cinema products before announcing any more.

I really can't be bothered to wait any longer for Sony's elusive systems.

Andrew Everard February 25, 2008 21:35

They'll be on sale starting from March.

Wightknight February 25, 2008 22:16

Hi Andrew,

Have Sony given any indications on pricing?

Andrew Everard February 26, 2008 09:56

As usual, the company doesn't give prices on products such as these, but I've seen suggestions of around £200 for the 260, £280 for the 560, £350 for the 560 and £500 for the 860.

But those are only guesstimates based on the euro prices I've heard mentioned.

Oh, and the 860 will be the last one available, in June.

stefanr February 28, 2008 10:09

Unfortunately Andrew, as we all now from magazines like yourselves, good informative read by the way, that suggestions, heard mentioned and guesstimates are not any indication of these items materialising any time soon, the fact that you have euro pricing probably means that these items will hit Europe and not the UK first as we are always the last in the line.

Especially from Sony who have a habit of releasing titbits of information and then not delivering product. i.e. HT-SS2000 and HT-SS1200 which were mentioned by Sony back in October, now from someone on the inside releasing info to a mate that happens to be a reseller we know theres a HT-SS1300 and HT-SS2300 in the pipeline, but not until August at the earliest, if they ever arrive at all. I can find out more information than their own staff, I know, I've spoken to them numerous times.

The problem is people want to buy these products and their scarcity or lack of, just make us frustrated. I want to spend my hard earned money now while I have it, so it begs the question do I wait for a non-materialising Sony product or go elsewhere? The latter certainly seems ever more appealing.

Right I'm off to have a look at Onkyo's website.

P.S. I now it's not your fault as you're only reporting news or heresay... but

SONY GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!!!

Anonymous comments are disabled

About Andrew Everard

Andrew Everard, Audio Editor of Gramophone since November 1999 and What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision's Consulting Editor, read English at Queens' College, Cambridge a very long time ago! He started his journalistic career in 1982 on Haymarket's photographic magazines, and subsequently worked on What Hi-Fi?, High Fidelity, Audiophile and Home Cinema magazines, as well as contributing a monthly column to Japanese title HiVi.